13/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – By adopting (513 votes for, 70 votes against, with 96 abstentions) a lengthy own-initiative report (more than 30 pages) by rapporteur Ángela Vallina (GUE/NGL, Spain), on Tuesday 13 March, MEPs are effectively calling for an increase in the cohesion policy budget as part of the next multi-annual financial framework as a means of supporting the cities and regions in the implementation of the COP21 objectives. Parliament believes that the cities and regions have a vital role to play in this adaptation and the mitigation of the effects of climate change. To this end, cohesion policy can play a "key" role and be better articulated around national energy and climate plans up to 2030. An amendment making the objectives tackling climate change compulsory, however, was rejected (330 for, 352 against, with 9 abstentions). (PH)